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Remarkable variability in morphology, hygroscopicity and optical properties of soot aerosols during internal mixing in the atmosphere.

Zhang, Renyi Y ; Khalizov, AF ; Pagels, Joakim LU ; Zhang, DD ; Xue, H and McMurry, PH (2008) In Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105. p.10291-10296
Abstract
The atmospheric effects of soot aerosols include interference with radiative transfer, visibility impairment, and alteration of cloud formation and are highly sensitive to the manner by which soot is internally mixed with other aerosol constituents. We present experimental studies to show that soot particles acquire a large mass fraction of sulfuric acid during atmospheric aging, considerably altering their properties. Soot particles exposed to subsaturated sulfuric acid vapor exhibit a marked change in morphology, characterized by a decreased mobility-based diameter but an increased fractal dimension and effective density. These particles experience large hygroscopic size and mass growth at subsaturated conditions (<90% relative... (More)
The atmospheric effects of soot aerosols include interference with radiative transfer, visibility impairment, and alteration of cloud formation and are highly sensitive to the manner by which soot is internally mixed with other aerosol constituents. We present experimental studies to show that soot particles acquire a large mass fraction of sulfuric acid during atmospheric aging, considerably altering their properties. Soot particles exposed to subsaturated sulfuric acid vapor exhibit a marked change in morphology, characterized by a decreased mobility-based diameter but an increased fractal dimension and effective density. These particles experience large hygroscopic size and mass growth at subsaturated conditions (<90% relative humidity) and act efficiently as cloud-condensation nuclei. Coating with sulfuric acid and subsequent hygroscopic growth enhance the optical properties of soot aerosols, increasing scattering by ≈10-fold and absorption by nearly 2-fold at 80% relative humidity relative to fresh particles. In addition, condensation of sulfuric acid is shown to occur at a similar rate on ambient aerosols of various types of a given mobility size, regardless of their chemical compositions and microphysical structures. Representing an important mechanism of atmospheric aging, internal mixing of soot with sulfuric acid has profound implications on visibility, human health, and direct and indirect climate forcing. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
volume
105
pages
10291 - 10296
publisher
National Academy of Sciences
external identifiers
  • wos:000258211600006
  • scopus:48749103606
  • pmid:18645179
ISSN
1091-6490
DOI
10.1073/pnas.0804860105
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
29c3bc56-f67a-485f-a03e-87c00240818a (old id 1241798)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:23:56
date last changed
2022-04-21 06:54:17
@article{29c3bc56-f67a-485f-a03e-87c00240818a,
  abstract     = {{The atmospheric effects of soot aerosols include interference with radiative transfer, visibility impairment, and alteration of cloud formation and are highly sensitive to the manner by which soot is internally mixed with other aerosol constituents. We present experimental studies to show that soot particles acquire a large mass fraction of sulfuric acid during atmospheric aging, considerably altering their properties. Soot particles exposed to subsaturated sulfuric acid vapor exhibit a marked change in morphology, characterized by a decreased mobility-based diameter but an increased fractal dimension and effective density. These particles experience large hygroscopic size and mass growth at subsaturated conditions (&lt;90% relative humidity) and act efficiently as cloud-condensation nuclei. Coating with sulfuric acid and subsequent hygroscopic growth enhance the optical properties of soot aerosols, increasing scattering by ≈10-fold and absorption by nearly 2-fold at 80% relative humidity relative to fresh particles. In addition, condensation of sulfuric acid is shown to occur at a similar rate on ambient aerosols of various types of a given mobility size, regardless of their chemical compositions and microphysical structures. Representing an important mechanism of atmospheric aging, internal mixing of soot with sulfuric acid has profound implications on visibility, human health, and direct and indirect climate forcing.}},
  author       = {{Zhang, Renyi Y and Khalizov, AF and Pagels, Joakim and Zhang, DD and Xue, H and McMurry, PH}},
  issn         = {{1091-6490}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{10291--10296}},
  publisher    = {{National Academy of Sciences}},
  series       = {{Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}},
  title        = {{Remarkable variability in morphology, hygroscopicity and optical properties of soot aerosols during internal mixing in the atmosphere.}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/2907279/5052408.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1073/pnas.0804860105}},
  volume       = {{105}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}